Fulton triathlon coach academy flourishes

ISIPHO Triathlon Club will host its sixth duathlon and trail run on Saturday, 16 November that will include swimming, cycling and running.

The club was started by Fulton School for the Deaf house father and triathlon coach, Zakes Mkhize.

Mkhize has a passion for the sport which he has been teaching for many years. His hard work won him an award for ‘volunteer of the year’ in the SA Sport Awards in 2014 because of the work he does at Fulton, teaching learners with challenges the skills of triathlon.

ALSO READ: Zakes rakes in SA Sport award

“The academy has grown so much in the past few years as training is available in Cato Ridge, Mzinyathi, Hillcrest, Cato Manor and Umbumbulu.”

He said there are coaches who teach children (six to 16 years) during the week and visit them on weekends to monitor the progress. “The coaches that I have hired are students who are in universities studying sport management.

“I did that on purpose so that the children can see the importance of education even while playing sport. They need to be encouraged that books and sport go hand-in-hand and they can do sport professionally after they finish school,” said Mkhize.

He said he started his academy to get children away from drugs and other things that will affect their future negatively. “There are many talented children in the townships and rural areas whose futures end up being destroyed because they do not receive any support or exposure.

ALSO READ: Triathlon coach opens his academy

“I love children to be involved in sport as it teaches them discipline. In my academy I award them if they have done well, so that they can stay motivated,” said a humble Mkhize.

His challenge is that he does not have enough equipment. “I buy second-hand bicycles and repair them with money from my own pockets if they break down.”

Mkhize wants to see more of his boys competing on a national level or even worldwide

“Early this year I took four boys from the academy to participate in Cape Town. Over the years I have also taken children from the school and the have done very well, that’s what keeps me going, it just makes me so happy, my heart just melts,” said Mkhize with a smile on his face.

He added that he wished to thank people who have supported him over the years especially City Express Stores who sponsors him with kits, trophies, tents, toilets and tables every year when he hosts his event. The event will be held at Shallcross Sports Stadium, registration is 6.30am and the race will start at 8am.

Contact Mkhize on 078 664 5480 or email zakesmkhize@gmail.com.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.